Liquid atomizer



' July `26. 1927.

c.v HURLEY l LIQUID ATOMIvZ-ER Filed Nov. 24, 1925 Edif Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,637,113 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HURLEY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO CONTINENTALCAN COHPANY, INC., F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW' YORK. v

LIQUID ATOMIZEB.

Appiiuation' inegi November 24, 1925. serial no. 71,133.

This invention relates to liquid atomizers in which an air current is employed for sucking liquid from a container and then delivering it in atomized form, and more particularly to self-contained insecticide sprayers. Y

According to the present invention, a sealed liquid container is rigidly attached to the air conduit and normally is at a lower level than the discharge orifice in the end of the conduit. A suction pipe leading from below the surface of the liquid in the container passes upward and terminates substantiall opposite the discharge outlet of the con uit. The air current passing throu h the discharge orifice and over the end of t e supply tube causes a suction of li uid into the latter and a discharge of the iquid in particles therefrom.

Such devices have been on the market for a long time, but it has been found with such devices that when the container is heated, the air entrapped in the upper part thereof will cause a suiiicient pressure upon the body of the liquid therein to elevate the same in the tube, and provoke an overflow. This results in a waste ofv liquid and a very disagreeable soiling of the mouth of this tube. Furthermore, such a device has the disadvantage that, if the container and conduit be inverted, the supply 'tube is no longer beneath the surface of the liquid and the latter cannot ass to the discharge orifice of the air con uit for atomization.

According to the'present invention, however, means are provided to eliminate this overflow due to conditions of local heating or barometric variations. Furthermore, the

l device is capableof operating as an atomizer even when inverted.

The invention is particularly characterized by its simplicity and chea ness of construction. The absence of moving parts prevents failure to o erate because of sticking or corrosion. With lthese and other` objects in view, there is shown in the accom anying drawings one form of execution in w ich the container is rigidly attached to a portable air ump. i

Figure 1 is an elevation of the atomizer with parts broken awa to illustrate the relation of the various e ements.

Fig. 2 is an endl view of the same on a somewhat larger scale, with a portion broken away. j

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fi 1, with the atoinizer inverted.

n Fig. 3, the device is illustrated as having the air-pump cylinder 10 with the pis ton 11 therein to be reciprocated by the piston rod 12 which passes through an opening in the rear wall 13 of the ump cylinder and has an operating han le 14 thereon. The front end wall 15 of the pump cylinder 10 has a small discharge conduit orifice 16 thereon.

It will be understood that when the pump handle and piston rod are forced in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 1 or 3, a current of air is delivered through the discharge orifice 16. v

A connecting web 17 serves to support a liquid container 18 in rigid relation to the pump cylinder 10. This container 18 is closed and has the hermetically"`sealed filling cap 19 at its top when resting in a normal position. The supply pipe 20 opens into the container 18 near its bottom when held in a position of normal use, as shown in Fig. 1. It extends through the top of this container and has its end 21 opposite the discharge orifice 16 of the pump cylinder (Fig. 2).

Within the container 18` but very close to its upper wall in the position of Fig. l is a vent opening 22 in the pipe 20 which is of much smaller area than the cross section of the pipe 20. It will be understood that the cross section of the pipe 20 is proportioned according to the liquid to be employed and to the quantity of air which may be delivered through the discharge orifice 16: This is well known in the art and has been employed for a long time.

It is preferable vto rovide a small skirt 23 about the upper en of the tube to catch liquid which may drip therefrom during the atomizing o eration, and to sup ort the tube 20 in iixe osition. This skirt 23' is maintained a su cient distance below the end 21 of the tube 20, so that free atomization may occur.

In operation, when the current of air is delivered through the discharge orifice 16 and ast the upper free end 21 of the tube 20, the liquid is sucked out of the container 18 throu h the tube 20, and delivered at its end 21. he air current from the discharge orifice 16 blows this liquid into droplets and forms a fine spray which is proected with considerable force in the desire direction.

When the piston 11 is returned in the opposite direction, the relative air pressure within and without the container 18 balances itself through the pipe. This action is repeated as often as desired.

If for any reason it be desired to invert the atomizer, the liquid will normally be held within the container 18 by the trapping of the air in the upper part of thls container. When, however, the air current from the pump cylinder 10 is discharged through the orifice 16, the suction at the end 21 of the pipe 20 will cause the liquid to be sucked down through the small opening 22 into the pi e 20 and delivered at its outer end, so t at the spraying action occurs as shown in Fig. 3.

If the device in the upright position be placed u n a radiator or other hot object, the liquid0 and air within the container will be warmed. The air expands and would normally tend to force the liquid out through the tube 20. According to this invention, however, this air pressure in the upper part of the container 18 is relieved through the vent opening 22 and allowed to escape without causing an overflow. The same action occurs when barometric diierences of pressuresexist inside and outside of the container 1 It is obvious that .the invention is not limited to the particular form of execution shown, but that any modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an atomizer for liquids including a substantially closed container for the liquid to be atomized, a liquid delivery tube open at both ends and passing through the wall of said container and constituting the only opening of4 said container while in use, said tube extending substantially across the container to opposite sides thereof, and having a relatively small continuously open aperture through the wall at a point within the container and in close proximity 'to the point where said tube passes through the wall of said container, and means to create a liquid-delivering suction in said tube and y,to atomize the liquid delivered at the outer open end thereof.

2. In an invertible atomizer for liquids, an air conduit, a substantially closed container for the liquid to be atomized, a liquid delivery tube passing through the wall of and extending substantially across said container in either position for use, said tube having continuously open apertures into said container adjacent both top and bottom walls thereof in either position for use, said tube also having an opening therein outside said container, and means to hold said tube and said air conduit in fixed relation substantially at a right angle to each, other for suction of li uid from said container through said tu and for atomization thereof, said continuously open a rtures permitting the atomizer to operate h in normal and inverted positions, said a erture in said tube adjacent the point w ere said tube passes through said wall serving to permit the balance of the pressure within with that without said container while said container is in the normal position and not in use and beng relatively small whereby to prevent the esca e of liquid therefrom by gravity when sai container is in the inverted position.

In testimony whereof, I alx my signa-- ture.

CHARLES HURLEY. 

